Lang
5/1/21
A police chase that started near downtown Iowa City ended at Kinnick Stadium late Friday night.
According to online records, Iowa City Police received a report of a possibly intoxicated driver at the L&M Mighty Shop on East Burlington Street just after 11:30pm. A traffic stop was attempted on the 2004 Kia Spectra in question near the corner of Burlington and Front Streets after it parked over a crosswalk, but the driver refused to pull over. A chase ensued, winding past Rienow and Slater Halls and the UI Fieldhouse as other patrol cars joined in the pursuit. Stop sticks were deployed by University Heights Police outside Kinnick Stadium, and the car came to rest near the corner of Melrose Avenue and Hawkins Drive.
The driver, identified as 35-year-old Nathan Thornton of 4th Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids, allegedly refused to exit his vehicle. Police say Thornton also refused commands to go to the ground, and struggled with arresting officers.
Thornton allegedly showed signs of intoxication and admitted to drinking. Open containers of alcohol were found inside his vehicle, and a Datamaster test showed his blood alcohol content as .257%. Thornton is charged with Eluding, Operating While Intoxicated, Interference with Official Acts, and Driving While Revoked. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of over three years in prison.
Thornton has a pending OWI case after another police chase in Linn County. He has a lifetime OWI conviction that reached the end of the 12 year lookback period on April 17th.